Venetian shade



March 22, 1938.

G. C. LAWSON ET AL VENET IAN SHADE Filed Nov. '19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Bnnentors & GOTTFR/D 6- IA W 0 C4721 Zl/VDGZU/ST fix TM Gttornegs March 22, 1938. c. c. LAWSON ET AL VENET IAN SHADE Filed Nov. 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 nventois J GOTTFR/D C. 44 WSU/V CARA ZIMDGU/ST II x7 3 1 A. I 1 l l l II ll III I III attorneys March 22, 1938. G. c. LAWSON ET AL VENET IAN SHADE Filed. Nov. 19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet Z ZSnnentors 'aarrF/P/p c. [A wso/v CARL A/NDGU/ST Patented Mar. 22, 1938 VENETIAN SHADE Gottfrid C. Lawson and Carl Lindquist,

Cleveland, Ohio I Application November 19, 1934, Serial No. 753,586

;15 Claims.

This invention relates to shutter type, or what are known in the trade as Venetian shades for application to windows, porches and the like, and the prinicpal objects of the invention include:

The provision of a shade of the type specified embodying improved features of adjustability and control;

A shutter typeshade which is attractive and neat in appearance and design and which at the same time is capable of. low-cost production;

A shutter type shade wherein the shutters and coacting parts are relatively light in weight yet possess ample strength and at the same time are economical to manufacture;-

5 A shade of the class specified having an improved pull-cord control.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a.-view in elevation of a window shade embodying the features of the invention in its preferred form;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view 5 of part of the shutter operating mechanism, and Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of Figure 2 with certain parts included which are omitted from the latter figure;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation and plan of the shutters for the shade; Figures 12' and 13 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines |2I2 and l3-l3, Figures 10 and ll; and Figure 12a is an enlargement of one of the edge portions of Figure 12. Referring in detail to the drawings, the side and top frame members of a window are indicated at 5 and 5a in Figure 1. A housing member 6 is suitably attached to the top frame member and has secured thereto brackets 8 and 9.

50 The housing 6 may be formed of sheet metal or the like and is shown of box shape in cross section The shade proper comprises a series of shutters or slats Ill, and I l and Ha. The shutters II and Ha which are the top and bottom shutters and support the remaining shutters, are preferably of the form shown in Figures 11 and 13, while the shutters i0 constitute the body of the shade and are preferably constructed as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

The shutters l0 are preferably formed of pressed board, paper, or analogous material which at their side edges are provided with beads Illa, which preferably consist of sheet-metal strips bent over and clamped on said edges. The pre- 10 ferred method of securing the beads on the edges of the shutters is clearly shown in Figure 12a. The strips as here shown are each bent so that the edge faces lie at an angle to one another with the inner edges biting into the shutter on op- 15 posite sides thereof. The bead 'thus assumes an 1 The top and bottom shutters H and Ha may be made of material similar to that. used in the shutters l0 and are preferably formed with rolled or rounded edges llb, which are free of the metal beads or edges I 0a, note particularly Fig. 13.' These rounded or rolled edges materially strengthen the supporting shutters and permit the use of light material in their construction.

The top and bottom shutters are formed with holes I! and the intermediate shutters In with slots i2a through which the pull cord 1 passes.

Connecting with each slot |2a is cord-removing slot or break l2b, note right-hand side of Fig. 10, which extends to and through the edge of the shutter. By slightly twisting the shutter, the break orslot no can be widened sufiiciently to permit removal of the shutter from its cord, so 4 that any one or all of the shutters l0 may be removed without disassembling the entire shade or removing the cord.

At the left hand side of Fig. 10, a slot I20 is formed which serves the same function as the 45 slot lZb, the difference being that in this instance the slot is of such width that the pull cord will pass through with some pressure but without requiring twisting of the shutter. This type of slot is better adapted to shutters made of mao terial that may be damaged by twisting.

The intermediate shutters l0 and bottom shutter Ila are suspended from the top shutter I l by straps B, which may be made of canvas or analogous material, these straps being secured to 55 the top shutter preferably as shown in Figure 6, the upper ends of the straps I3 being inserted through slots formed in the edges ilb of the shutter II and detachably held in place by means of spring metal clips M. This same construction is preferably adopted with respect to the lower shutter Ila, while the intermediate shutters preferably rest on cross straps I5, note particularly Figure 4. It' sometimes happens that these straps stretch after'a shade is hung, so that the shuttersare thrown out of alignment. With the clip fastening just described, it is only necessary to bend the clips sufliciently to allow the strap to slip or the clipto be removed and the strap can be adjusted as desired or readily removed for cleaning or repair.

It will be seen that when the top shutter H is rotated, this movement is transmitted to the bottom shutter Ha as well as the intermediate shutters l0. I

The shutter control mechanism is mounted on and housed by the bracket 9 and the box shaped housing 6. First referring to the means for raising and lowering the shutters, this is accomplished through the medium of pull cord 1 which is passed between grip or clutch members, to be described, carried by the bracket 9 and over pulleys l6, Ilia and l6b, rotatably mounted in the housing 6, the cord extending downwardly through the 'holes l2 and slots Ma and being knotted on the ends thereof to hold it in place with respect to the lower shutter Ha. It will be seen from Figures 2 and 4 that the cord has one end thereof extended over the pulleys l6- and We and down through the registering holes and slots in one extremity of the shutters, while the other end of the cord is extended and passed over the pulley I61) and downwardly through registering holes and slots in the opposite extremity of the shutters, the looped end of the cord being provided with a slip buckle l1.

To provideaccurate and convenient control for the dropped position of the shutters, clutch members l8 and la, are provided and are rotatably mounted on bearing pins IS in the outwardly projecting legsSo of the bracket 9. These clutch members are shown more or less in detail in Figures 7, 8 and 9 and are each preferably in the form of peripherally grooved segmentsspaced a predetermined distance apart'with approximately the lower half of each segment having a roughened or grooved gripping surface i8b. Both lengths of the pull cord I extend downwardly through these clutch segments. The weight of the shutters Ill and H cause the latter to drop by gravity when the clutch segments release the cord 1. To cause the clutch segments to grip the cord, it is only necessary to swing the latter to one side or the other, whereupon the faces of the clutch segmentsfrictionally engage the cord and are rotated into gripping position. To release the cord, it is onlynecessary to pull downwardly until the segments are rotated to nongripping position with the roughened surface free of the cord, whereupon the latter may be released and the shutters drop to the desired adjusted position. Stops I80 limit the downward travel of the clutch'segments.

It is desirable that both lengths of the pull cord 1 be gripped by the clutch equally and in a positive manner so that one length of cord may not slip and cause misalignment and disarrangement of the shutters. To insure a positive and equal gripping action, regardless of whether or not the cord lengths are of equal diameter or bulk in cross section, each clutch segment has its gripping face formed so that it will exert a wedging action on the pull cord and crowd both lengths thereof between the segments, note particularly Figure 8, said face being provided with wedge-shaped sides I 8d connected by substantially plane or straight intermediate portions which are normally held spaced from the cord. The clutch segments have, in effect, a five-point pressure or crowding action on the pull cord lengths, as diagrammatically indicated by the arrows in Figure 8. Should the cord lengths slip regardless of this arrangement, the grooves l8?) guide them toward the center of the clutch faces, since said grooves are formed or lie at an angle pointing toward said center, or are herringbone shaped. By this means unequal slipping is further guarded against. This construction is of particular advantage inview of the frequent difference in cross-sectional bulk or diameter of the cord lengths.

The control mechanism for tilting the shutters is also carried by the bracket 9 and comprises a shaft l9, which is mounted in bearings 20 forming part of the bracket 9, note particularly Figures 2 and 5. The shaft l9 has secured on one end thereof a pulley 2| over which a pull or adjusting cord 22 is trained and is retained on the pulley by means of side brackets 23, which are secured to the housing 9- by means of screws 23a. The shaft I9 is also provided with a worm 24 which meshes with a worm gear 25, note particularly Figure 4, the gear 25 being secured on a pin or shaft 26 which at one end is journaled in 2, depending portion of the bracket 9 and at its opposite end is journaled in a bracket 21 se-- cured to the upper shutter ll, note particularly Figure 2. I

To adjust the tilted position of the shutters, it is only necessary to pull on the cord 22, thereby rotating the pulley 2i which in turn rotates the gear 25 and shaft 26 through the worm 24.

It is desirable that the cord which is trained over the pulley 2| slip as little as possible so that the ends thereof will always be in substantialalignment. Accordingly, the pulley 2! is formed with a plurality of ,holes 2la in the side walls which bound the grooved face of the pulley, which holes need not necessarily open outthrough the sides of said walls. These holes serve to guide the cord into the pulley and to press the cord into the groove thereof with the proper tension. The surface of pull cords used for this purpose and especially those of the braided type is generally of somewhat roughened form and the body of 'the cord more or less soft, so that the cord presses into the holes and sets up a frictional engagement therewith. To further insure against slipping of the cord on the pulley, resilient guides Ho and Mo are provided and are mounted so that either one or both normally bears against the cord and presses the latter into the grooved face of the pulley. The tension of these members Zlb and He may be regulated as desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have provided a shutter type window shade which may be easily and quickly adjusted and wherein the control or pull cords are located on one side of the shade convenient to one hand and which do not require attachment to a nail or the like each time the shade is adjusted. If desired, one

continued around pulley 2| and .the cord 22 eliminated. From actual experience, I have found that the shutters do not stick during the adjusting operation, and that adjustment may be easily and quickly carried out. By making the shutters as specified, the cost of manufacture may. be kept to a relatively low figure.

It will be understood that certain minor changes in structure may be adopted within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a pull cord for a shutter of the class described, a clutch member therefor comprising a pair of one-way gripping members having grooved surfaces defining a trackway for said cord, a portion of said surfaces being roughened so that the said members will be rotated into gripping engagement with said cord through frictional contact therewith.

2. In combination with a pull cord for a shutter of the class described, a clutch member therefor comprising a pair of one-way gripping members having co acting rotary members with working faces arranged to provide a passageway through which the cord length extends, said faces each having transversely opposed side walls which are of converging, substantially wedge shaped con tour to effect a crow-ding action on said pull cords and insure an equal gripping action thereon.

3. In combination with a pull cord for a shutter of the class described, a clutch member therefor comprising a pair of co-acting oppositely disposed rotatable members having arcuate peripheries with grooved working faces adapted for frictional engagement with said cord, said 'faces having opposed side walls thereof converging toward one another in a substantially wedge shaped form adapted to exert pressure on the outer opposed sides of the cord lengths to crowd said lengths together into the clutch groove to insure equal gripping of said lengths.

4. In combination with a pull cord for a shutter of the class described, a-clutch therefor comprising a pair of grooved' -arcuate faced segments rotatable in'spaced' relation to each other with the cord lengths trained therebetween, the grooved faces of the segments each having opposed side walls of substantially wedge shaped formation adapted to exert acrowding actionpn I the cord lengths," and -.a plurality of tractmn I grooves formed in-the lower half of each segment,

said'traction grooves being arranged at converging angles to guide the cord length toward the center of the segment faces.

5. In combination-with'a pull cord for ashutter of the class described, a clutch therefor comprising a pair of grooved arcuate faced segments rotatably mounted in spaced relation to each other with said cord lengthstrained therebetween; a plurality of track-grooves formed in the lower half of each segment arranged in herringbone shape to guide the cord lengths toward the control cords depend, said rail having a bottom opening through which the cords extend, a dog connectedv to the rail beyond said side of the pulley on an axis parallel to the pulley and adapted to swing downwardly of its own weight, stop means limiting thedownward movement of the dog, and a curved gripping face on the dog disposed eccentric to the axis thereof and with its eccentricity increasing from the top down.

-8. In a Venetian blind, a rail from which the blind slats are supported, a pulley mounted in said rail on an axis inclined to the horizontal and from one side of which blind control cords depend, said rail having a bottom opening through which the cords extend, a dog connected to the rail beyond said side of the pulley on an axis parallel to the pulley and adapted to swing downwardly of its own weight, stop means limiting the downward movement of the dog, and a curved gripping face on the dog disposed eccentric to the axis thereof and with its eccentricity increasing from the top down.

9. In a Venetian blind, a top rail, a bracket secured to the top rail and having extensions extending into the top rail, a pulley supported by said extensions, a dog pivotally supported by said bracket to one side of said pulley and having a gripping face eccentric to its pivot.

10. In a Venetian blind, a top rail, a bracket secured to the top rail and having parallel side walls provided with extensions extending into the top rail, a pulley supported by the extensions within the top rail, a dog pivotally supported between the side walls of the bracket at one side and below said pulley, and having a gripping face eccentric to its pivot.

11. In a Venetian blind, a top rail, a bracket secured at an angle to the top rail and having parallel side walls provided with extensions extending into the top rail, a pulley supported by the extensions within the top rail at an angle inclined to the horizontal, a dog pivotally supported between the side walls of the bracket at one side and below said pulley, and having a gripping face eccentric to its pivot, said pivot for saiddog being parallel to the axis of the pulley. Y

'12. In a Venetian blind having slats adapted to be raised, lowered, and/or tilted by control cords, a top rail and 2, raising, lowering and tilting mechanism, a bracket therefor, said bracket including a pair of parallel side walls secured to the top rail at an angle and extending into the top rail, said angularity being such that the control cords may be operated spaced from the window.

13. In a Venetian blind having slats adapted to be raised, lowered, and/or tilted by control cords, and mechanism for raising, lowering and tilting the same, a top rail, a bracket for supporting said mechanism including a bracket body secured to the top rail at an angle and adapted to support said mechanism at such an angle that the control cords for operating the mechanism may be operated spaced from the window.

la. In a Venetian blind having control cords for raising and lowering and control cords for tilting the same, a top rail, a control bracket having parallel side walls, portions of which extend into said rail, a pulley rotatably supported in the rail on said bracket, a clutch supported below the rail between the walls of said bracket,

the parallel walls of said bracket being inclined 1 with respect to the rail so that the control cords which extend through the clutch and over said pulley may be operated spaced from-the window, a tilt mechanism supported at the lower end of said bracket including a. shaft rotatably journalled in the bracket and having an operating sheave adapted to receive a cord thereover for frictionally rotating the same, the axis of said shaft being inclined to the horizontal to permit said cord to be operated at a point spaced from the window.

15. In a Venetian blind, a top rail, a control bracket having parallel side walls and formed with extensions protruding into the rail above the bottom, the parallel walls of said bracket being inclined with respect to the rail, a pulley rotatably supported in the rail on said bracket, and a clutch supported below the rail between the walls of said bracket, a tilt mechanism supported at CARL LINDQUIST. GOTTFRID C. LAWSON. 

